Jeff Co. sweeps Lady ‘Riders

Crowder’s softball team was swept in a doubleheader with Jefferson College on Monday, 8-4, 5-4, but bounced back with a 4-1 victory in the first game of the Bucco Classic in El Dorado, Kan., on Saturday.

HILLSBORO, Mo. — Crowder’s softball team was swept in a doubleheader with Jefferson College on Monday, 8-4, 5-4, but bounced back with a 4-1 victory in the first game of the Bucco Classic in El Dorado, Kan., on Saturday.

The Crowder Lady ‘Riders dropped the first game 8-4 after the Lady Vikings scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to stretch their 3-2 lead to 7-2. That would be all the insurance they would need to pin down the victory as starting pitcher Megan Gurski kept Crowder at bay until allowing two runs in the seventh.

Gurski threw all seven innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Crowder out hit the Lady Vikings 8-6, but Gurski’s big day at the plate was the difference as she collected two hits and four RBIs.

Madison Barnes started on the hill for the Lady ‘Riders and allowed three runs on two hits with five walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Walks continued to be a bugaboo as the game wore on as reliever Ashton Worth handed out six free passes and allowed five runs — four earned — with one strikeout in four innings.

Jessica Neely had two hits and scored twice, while Payton Appleberry also had two hits in the game. Shelby Stuck, Carson Forge, Shyanne Nichols and Alexis Navarro each had hits in the game, while Forge drove in two RBIs.

Crowder trailed 4-3 in the nightcap before scratching a run together in the top of the seventh, only to watch the Lady Vikings answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the seventh to win in walk-off fashion, 5-4.

After tossing a big game in the opener, Gurski returned to the mound in game two, but the Lady ‘Riders fared much better as they touched her for four runs on eight hits. Gurski walked six and struck out five, but still managed to earn the victory.

Tonyan, on the other hand, went 6 1/3 strong innings on the hill before Gurski popped a walk-off homer to end it. Tonyan scattered nine hits and gave up five runs — four earned — with no walks and one strikeout.

Forge had another solid game at the plate for Crowder as she went 2 for 4 with a double and a solo home run. Nichols also had two hits, including a double, and RBI, while Kala Crisp, Morgan Coleman, Stuck and Neely had hits and Stuck drove in two runs.

Crowder (25-11, 8-2 region) defeated Garden City 4-1 in the opener of the Bucco Classic on Saturday. No stats were available for this game at press time. The Lady ‘Riders are back in action at the tournament today.